Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 October 2023
55. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the reduction in outreach services previously provided by Citizens' Information branches across the country before the pandemic; what steps, if any, her Department is taking to restore these outreach services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46414/23]
View answerI am asking this question on behalf of Deputy Cahill. I think this is the first opportunity I have had to congratulate the Minister on the negotiations in regard to the budget. For the second year in a row, the combination of once-off payments and increases in core rates has led the ESRI to state that these changes have kept people ahead of inflation. Given international rates of inflation, as well as those here, this is an achievement. At the same time, it gives us the flexibility to row back on this when inflation changes. There will be a cliff edge there for us at some point in respect of trying to ensure we keep pace in this regard, but the Minister has handled this aspect well so far. When that cliff edge does arrive, therefore, I do not doubt that she will be able to handle it with the same sense of fairness.
This question relates to citizens' information centres. It came on foot of a number of queries from several Fianna Fáil back benchers regarding the closure of citizens information centres, namely, in Wicklow, Stillorgan and Rathmines. Will the Minister address the issue of the reduction in services since the onset of Covid-19?
I thank Deputy McAuliffe for raising this issue. The Citizens Information Board, CIB, is a statutory body under the aegis of my Department. CIB funds and supports a number of service delivery companies to provide services on its behalf including eight regional citizens information service, CIS, companies which operate the national network of citizens' information centres.
The Comhairle Act charges CIB with the provision of independent information, advice and advocacy services. Each CIS company is a separate company in its own right, governed by a voluntary board of directors. Decisions regarding the delivery of services, including outreach services, are entirely a matter for the respective boards in their own regions. As Minister, I cannot direct them regarding operational decisions.
To date in 2023, the CIS has supported 328,258 people with 661,713 queries across a wide range of areas. The provision of outreach services is dependent on public demand and resources and is kept under review by the relevant CIS company. The Citizens Information Board has informed me that there are currently 90 citizens information centres open nationwide and 14 outreach centres. Following the Covid-19 pandemic there has, however, been a significant fall in the number of volunteers available to volunteer in the citizen information centres. Volunteers have been essential in providing valuable independent information and advice across the country through the network of citizens information centres and I wish to reiterate once again my strong appreciation for the vital service they provide. While some volunteers have returned to the service, I am pleased that local volunteer recruitment drives are taking place. It is important that the CIS companies continue to attract new volunteers. CIB informs me that once volunteer numbers are established on completion of these recruitment measures CIS companies will continue to review the provision of all services to the citizens information centres.
One CIB, eight CIS and 90 CICs have closed - all the acronyms would make one's head hurt. In essence one of the difficulties with the system is that the Minister cannot direct them because they are separate companies, but it was not any one of those companies that decided this, it was us. It was the Oireachtas that decided to have independent companies. The community and voluntary sector is plagued with a structure where we have set up a system that devolves responsibility, but that is a bigger point.
Citizens information centres, CICs, are absolutely key. All Members' clinics would have twice the number of people in them if it were not for those centres. I agree with the Minister on the issue of volunteers but we need to do more to try to support the CICs to recruit volunteers where we can. I am aware there were issues around the use of community employment workers in some of those centres but the closure of centres is very concerning. I have mentioned a number of closures and while the website is a fantastic service it does not replace the walk-in service that many of the CICs operate.
I take on board the points made by Deputy McAuliffe. I know the Deputy's background and he will be aware that my background is in the credit union so nobody knows better the value of community, the value of volunteers and the voluntary ethos that I saw at first hand there.
I am pleased to see a number of recruitment drives for volunteers are taking place around the country. I want to see the volunteers who were there pre-pandemic coming back. Of course we also want to see new volunteers coming on board. I am glad that the citizens information services are looking and trying to attract volunteers. Indeed, I opened a newly upgraded citizens information centre in Monaghan town only last Friday. It is actually on the site of the old credit union because they have moved to bigger things. It was the 50th anniversary of the citizens information office in Monaghan. I opened another office in Roscommon earlier in the year. It is a great resource. We can use this as a call to people to come forward. We must be sure too that the information they give is accurate and independent. That is what we pride ourselves on.
I join the Minister in encouraging people to come forward. From speaking to many volunteers I know it is a very rewarding service. As we in this House all know, to be able to impart information to people, which they otherwise would not be aware of, is a very rewarding experience. It certainly is for me any time I am in my clinic. There is, however, more that can be done. This issue around volunteering is impacting voluntary services right across the country. GAA clubs and football clubs are all saying the same thing. In many areas people have retracted and we need to get them back out where we can. Whatever we can do to support these services I would encourage the Minister to do. The Minister is very welcome to come out to visit either of the citizens information centres in my constituency at any stage.
Last year volunteers in citizens information branches in Carlow were told they were no longer needed. They were really good information providers. I can speak for them because I know most of them there. The move towards going online since Covid has meant a reduction in the face-to-face services being offered. This is a huge issue for me. When we are losing face-to-face contact it becomes a huge issue.
In my area the outreach services in Callan, Graiguenamanagh, Mooncoin, Tullow and Baltinglass have been closed. What will be there for those services? We need to get them back.
I see it like the speakers do. People are coming into my clinics and I am delighted to help them but we seem to be going more online. If a person is not inclined to be online it can be a huge disadvantage. I welcome the Minister saying that we are looking to bring back volunteers but I ask that these outreach services are put back in place. I know most of the volunteers, they do an excellent job and they are very capable people.
In my Department of Rural and Community Development we are developing a national volunteer strategy because it is important that we get people to volunteer. It is very rewarding. Some people may think they are taking on too much and maybe sometimes the responsibilities are too onerous for them but we do want to encourage them to get involved. We all know it can be very rewarding.
I am aware of the issue in Carlow. I was well aware of it last year and earlier this year. One of the strengths of the citizens information centre is its complete independence. This is why it is trusted to provide impartial and unbiased advice. If the Government or I started interfering in the running of the citizens information service we would be accused of propaganda. This is why it is up to the Citizens Information Board and the local citizens information service companies to run the service as they see fit.
In 2023 CIB had allocated funding of more than €17.3 million for the eight regional services and they are best placed to determine where those resources are needed in terms of public demand and the numbers calling into offices and outreach centres and so on. I will raise with them the point made by the Deputy.
We are moving on to a grouping of questions and I ask Members to be cognisant of the time.
